Mobile phones account for quarter of travel technology claims

Mobile phones account for almost a quarter of technology-related travel insurance claims, according to new claims data from Gigasure.

The travel insurer said smartphones represented 24.2% of technology claims, while the average claim involving electronic devices was £244. Theft, loss, and damage involving technology accounted for 4.6% of all travel insurance claims.

The findings come as travellers increasingly carry multiple electronic devices overseas. Civil Aviation Authority data cited by Gigasure suggests the average passenger flies with four devices, while separate YouGov research found that 37% of device owners take a power bank abroad, 35% a tablet and 27% a smartwatch.

The growing number and value of devices being taken overseas also raises questions about whether travellers have sufficient cover. Research from Which? found that 65% of annual travel insurance policies offering baggage or personal belongings cover had a maximum limit of £2,000 or less.

Half of travel insurance customers surveyed by Which? had also not updated their cover to reflect changes to their trips.

Gary Murphy, travel insurance expert at Gigasure, said the consequences of losing a smartphone overseas can extend beyond the cost of replacing the device because travellers increasingly rely on phones for boarding passes, booking information, navigation, and payments.

“Phones now play such an important role in our holidays, from storing boarding passes and booking information to navigating unfamiliar destinations, that losing one can cause significant disruption as well as an unexpected expense,” he commented.

Gigasure advised travellers to check whether their phone is covered before departure and whether any single-item or gadget limit is sufficient for its value. Travellers carrying several devices should also consider their combined value against their policy’s overall limits.

Further reading: In this ITIJ feature, Alfie Jake Thomson examines the future of claims payments: tradition, technology, and the rise of hybrid models.